The Lord’s mention of his preserved remnant’s grazing and lying down makes use of a common pastoral scene in order to portray them as well fed and protected. The use of for
to connect the clause to what precedes could make it sound as though the remnant’s refraining from injustice and falsehood would be motivated (for
) by materialism (graze and lie down
). But it should be noted that this notion of God’s people as a flock grazing
and lying down
in safety was associated with the monarchy, where the king was to feed and shepherd the people (2 Samuel 5:2; 2 Samuel 7:7). Recalling this as the monarchy was collapsing would have been of much encouragement to the hearers. God himself is the one who shepherds his own flock so that they can feed abundantly and lie own in security (Genesis 48:15; Genesis 49:24; Psalm 23:1; Psalm 80:1; Isaiah 40:11).1
13 those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”